Clownfish for 5 gallon reef tank with 10 gallon sump?

[Toverbeck95]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a 5 gallon aquarium set up right now with freshwater fish. It sits on my desk with an led lighting system for the heavily planted setup I have in it. The thing that's kinda weird is that I have a 10 gallon sump hooked up with it. The main reason I have it like this though is that I don't have room on the desk for anything bigger, but have plenty of room underneath, as well as for the added water quality stability.

 

I recently got a larger tank and am in the process of cycling for the fish in the 5 gallon tank.

 

I have had fish my whole life, I am religious about water changes, monitoring water parameters, etc...

 

I was looking around online about small reef tanks and I really like the idea of it. I understand I would only be able to have 1 fish tops in this setup, and I'm wondering about a percula clownfish.

 

Basically everyone says stick to small gobies for a 5 gallon tank, but with the large sump, and borderline OCD quality care, I'm wondering if a percula would be OK. From what I've read about them they aren't very active swimmers, its more water quality issues about them not being put in 5 gallon tanks.

 

Please let me know your thoughts and/or experience with this. Thanks

[Tamberav]

My clowns are very active even though they host a nem (and hammer coral). I would say they use about 50% of a 40 breeder gallon tank. I have seen others who clowns just sit in a corner all day. No idea why the difference but I have 7 clown fish and none of them sit in a corner looking boring.

 

That being said, I took down my 45g and needed somewhere to put a pair of clowns so they are in a 5g right now. The tiny baby clown is fine but I will be honest, my bigger female looks cramped. I gave her something to host which helped but she certainly runs her nose into the wall and swims along it because there is not much where else to swim once you have rock + corals filling up half the tank. She is "adult size" now at 3 years but no where near as big as some older occys/percs I have seen.

 

Can a clownfish live in a 5g its entire lifespan and not be cramped? I would vote no.

 

Can they live there a few years happily if purchased as a baby? Yeah, probably.

 

Will it die in a 5g as an adult because of the tank size? No, clowns are hardy. It will just follow its instincts and do what clowns do (beg for food).

 

I guess its up to you how long you plan to have the tank, how many corals you plan to add which WILL grow and take up space, and what you consider survive vs thrive.

[Muraki]

I agree with Tamberav.

 

I guess its up to you how long you plan to have the tank, how many corals you plan to add which WILL grow and take up space, and what you consider survive vs thrive.

 

 

Had a clown in a Fluval Spec V for 2 years, It appeared to be healthy, but I could tell it would swim around less and less over those 2 years. I ended up building a 22L and moving her over. My 5 gallon tank is now fishless. As a Clownfish owner, I personally feel better having my clown in a larger setup.

 

If you plan to get a clown, plan to get a bigger tank within 2 years. Just my opinion.

[Toverbeck95]

OK, thanks for the advice. I would love a clownfish, but if its going to have a poor quality of life I won't go down that road.

 

I'm saving up for a full blown reef aquarium(55+ gallons), but those are a little expensive haha, so its a ways off. Maybe a nice invertebrate tank, any suggestions on species?